Liquid feeding system for airplanes and the like



Mmm, 193 9. 7 WI R. KUZELKA LIQUID FEEDING SYSTEM FOR AIRPLANES AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 11, 1936 TTORNEY Patented Mar. 7,1939 r PATENT OFFICE mourn manned srsrnu Fon. dilemmas *wuuam Richard Kulelka, New York, 1v. 1!.

Application November 11, 1930, Serial No. 110,268

6 Claims. (cl. 244-135) This invention relates to liquid supply particularly adapted for use in the storage and delivery of liquids to the power units or motors I of airplanes to insure proper and uniform delivcry of the gasolene or of lubricating oils to the motors under normal and abnormal or emergency flight conditions thereby to materially contribute to the desired safety factor of airplane operation. v

The novel features andimprovements in construction and arrangement of my improved liquid feeding system are here illustrated in anembodiment adapted for the supplying or delivery of gasolene to the motor or motors ofan airplane in a manner providing for a constant and uniform supply throughout all flight conditions or posi-' tions of the plane whether upright or inverted or such other positions as may be assumed in the range of airplane maneuvers.

The features and advantages of the present in-' vention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters are applied to thecorrev sponding parts in the several views. In the drawing:

. @Hg. 1 is a diagrammatic view partially in vertical cross-section showing the features of my in- In the approved embodiment of the features of my invention as here illustrated it is designed for the storage and delivery of the fuel oil to the motors of an airplane. The assembly thereof is shown diagrammatically wherein I indicates a combined .wingand liquid fuel oil tank of an air- Diane construction having the wing tank elevated :with' relation to the motor or power unit, the carburetor of .which is indicated at e in the approximate relative position of the motor.

The wing tank I, as will be understood, may

be the conventional supporting wing and tank of the high wing type monoplane and is provided with the usual filling cap 2'having ball check- .valve 3 providing for air intake and operative to check outflow of the liquid fuel when flying in inverted I passes through the supply line or pipe 4 to the motor ormotors, the pipe 4 being connectedto the lower portion of theitankand to thecarburetor c as shown. The supply pipe is provided with a stop valve! and a check valve 6 having tion. 'From the wing tank the fuelseat member I and co-operating ball valve 8 cperative to prevent back flow of fuel to the wing tank under conditions of inverted flight. The check valve seat member as shown is formed as a threaded unit having external nut portion 9 and 6 radially slotted sleeve portion l0 threadedv to the valve casing 6, the slots thereof? communicating with an annular chamber ll of the casing with which the pipe 4 is connected to register. At I2 is positioned a perforate retainer disc for the 10'.

check valve ball member. At It is an adjusting valve for the carburetor fuel intake. I

In accordance with my-invention, I associate with the described arrangement an auxiliary liquid fuel reservoir or tank l4 connected to the 15 fuel supply line 4 and positioned normally below the motors as indicated. The auxiliary reservoir I4 is provided with a rigid cover plate l6 connected to the tubular flange extension of the valve casing 6 and with an opening communi- 20 eating with the supply line 4 and this cover plate is formed with a domed or convex central portion as shown. To the cover plate there is secured at its marginal flange portion'by bolts l! a lower metal tank or protective member l8 and inter- 25 posed between the plate and the protective member I8 is a flexible membrane 20 securely clamped at. its marginal portions between the members It and It. This flexible or supple membrane, formed of suitable material to be impervious and 30 resistant to the fuel oil employed, 1 rms in 'conjunction with the cover plate l6 e reservoir or container for an auxiliary f 1 supply which is positioned to li e eflective for eeding of the fuel to the motor or carburetor during periods of in- I 35 verted flight and at other positions of the plane when gravity influence tendstoprev'entvproper feed of the fuel from the main or wing tank. The flexible membrane is desirably made of material having elastic properties such as synthetic 40 rubber or treated fabric to impart pressure on the liquid by reason of the, elasticity of the ma'-,

' terial. "At the lower portion of the auxiliary tank member l4 there is provided an opening 22 into a funnel like air intake member 2| having its 43 open side forwardly disposed with relation to the direction of travel and having its rearward wall 7 23 angularly arranged to determine the degree air intake. At 2' is indicated an emergency or 55 5 the purpose of which is to allow for the escapeof entrapped air in the initial filling of the auxiliary reservoir. 1

air intake of entrapped air in the upper leg of As will be understood from the construction a described, the improved fuel delivery system provides for favorable gravity influence or pressures for the delivery of the fuel to the carburetor in varied positions of the plane; Furthermore, the normal feeding pressure, resulting from the suction of the motors and normal external air pressures, is augmented by the intake of air through the opening 22 and associated intake funnel responsive to the speed of the plane. This air intake beneath the membrane 20 acts advantageously as a displacing medium without contact or possible admixture with the fuel liquid and the resulting pressure of fuel in the lower leg or portion of the fuel line operates as a deterrent to the feed pipe as a result of inverting or rolling action of the 'plane.

My improved liquid feeding system, as will be readily understood, may be employed with corresponding advantage for the delivery of oil to the lubricating system of motors of airplanes or the like in generally similar manner and arrangement as that described.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A gravity fuel feed system for airplanes and the like comprising the combination with a motor and a carburetortherefor; of a main tank from which the fuel will be supplied during a normal flight, supported at a higher elevation than said carburetor, a conduit connecting said main tank with said carburetor having a portion extending below the level of the latter, an auxiliary tank below the carburetor in normal flight for supplying the fuel during inverted flight connected to said, portion having substantially unobstructed communication with said carburetor, and means "in said conduit for automatically shutting off said main tank and said conduit leading to the same whenthe plane is in inverted position.

2. A gravity fuel feed system for airplanes and the like comprising the combination with a motor and a carburetor thereof; of a'main tank from which the fuel will'be supplied during a normal flight, supported at a higher elevation than said carburetor, a conduit connecting said main tank with said carburetor having a portion extending below the level, of the latter, an auxiliary tank below the carburetor in normal flight for supplying the fuel during inverted flight connected-to said portion having substantially unobstructed communication with said carburetor, and means in said conduit for automatically shutting off said main tank and said conduit leading to thesame when the plane is in inverted position, and means in said auxiliary tank for increasing the normalbelow the level of the latter, an auxiliary tank below the carburetor in normal flight for supplying the fuel during inverted flight connected to said portion havingsubstantially unobstructed communication with said carburetor, and means main tank and said conduit leading to the same when the plane is in inverted position, said auxiliary tank being provided with a reservoir forming membrane wall of flexible material and means for admitting air to said auxiliary tank beneath said membrane wall whereby the normal feeding pressure will be increased.

4. A gravity fuel feed system for airplanes and the like comprising the combination with a motor and a carburetor therefor; of a main tank from which the fuel will be supplied during a normal flight, supported at a higher elevation than said carburetor, a conduit connecting said main tank with said carburetor having a portion extending below the level of'the latter, an auxiliary tank below the carburetor in normal flight for supplying the fuel during inverted flight connected to said portion having substantially unobstructed in said conduit for automatically shutting off said communication with said carburetor, a free fioat- Y and a carburetor therefor; of a main tank from which the fuel will be supplied during a normal flight, supported at a higher elevation than said carburetor, a conduit connecting said main tank with said carburetor having a portion extending below the level of the latter, an auxiliary tank.

below the carburetor in normal flight for supplying the fuel during inverted flight connected to said portion having substantially unobstructed communication with said carburetor, a free floating and gravity actuatedvalve for shutting off said main tank and said conduit beyond said auxiliary'tank when the plane is in inverted position, said auxiliary tank being provided with a reservoir forming membrane wall of flexible material and means for admitting air to said auxiliary tank beneath said membrane wall whereby the normal-feeding pressure will be increased.

'6. A' gravity fuel feed system for airplanes and the like comprising .the combination with a motor and a carburetor therefor; of a main tank from which the fuel will besupplied during a normal flight, supported at a. higher elevation than said carburetor, a conduit connecting said main tankwith said carburetorhaving a portion extending below the level of the latter, an auxiliary tank below the carburetor in normal flight for supplysaid portion having substantially unobstructed communication with said carburetor, and means in said conduit for automatically shutting off said main tank and said conduit leading to the ing the fuel during inverted flight connected to same when the plane is in inverted position, said RICHARD KUZELKA. 

